25 January 2011

Gove's on the Bac foot with a white paper stuck in 1868

Read the full article here

Talk about FULL circle... 1868? I like comments about the skills necessary for living in Dickensian England.

I am extremely frustrated by the fact that Art, D&T and things like performing arts are not even mentioned. There really is more to life than the contents of this EBacc business.

I do indeed like the fact that the article is written by John White, someone who clearly knows what he's talking about.

23 January 2011

Intrinsic Motivation 2

This time last year, I learnt how to use Dreamweaver CS4 to help to create a website for the business that I am a director for. I did it primarily, but not most importantly, to save money. But what kept me going? I wasn't being paid to create it, nor would it make money once it was done. I got it done because of the challenge. I was learning something new and something that was difficult to master. I am still far from mastering the details of Dreamweaver, but I can now maintain the website and add bits to it where necessary. Apparently, it's called "flow." It wasn't too difficult and it wasn't too easy (although I would have liked an element of ease thrown in at times!). I had complete control over when I worked on the site and when I learnt new things.

I am currently working on linking the domain to the blog. I haven't yet succeeded, but intend to get it sorted. Why? Because I want to the blog URL to look like it's part of the main website and not an add on.

Anyhoo, I shall continue to be intrinsically motivated.

[UPDATE]
I've managed to sort the URL issue.

22 January 2011

Twitter - similar to you...


Hmm, is @daraobriain similar to me because I'm hilarious?

Not entirely sure about @piersmorgan though - don't think we have anything in common...

Sitting Here with my Daughter

Here I am on a Saturday afternoon whilst my daughter sleeps, lying on me, having a cuddle. I just wanted to share how amazing it is. And it looks like I've done just that!

Lovely.

T x
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

18 January 2011

Carrots and Sticks (aka Intrinsic Motivation 1)

I'm currently reading Drive by Daniel H. Pink

Here is an excerpt about the dangerous use of the carrots and sticks in the workplace - (other than the obvious health and safety related ones...)

Carrots and sticks can:

  1. Extinguish intrinsic motivation
  2. Diminish performance
  3. Crush creativity
  4. Crowd out good behaviour
  5. Encourage cheating, shortcuts and unethical behaviour
  6. Become addictive
  7. Foster short-term thinking
What do we particularly want in the classroom? Motivated individuals who exhibit creativity and good behaviour that achieve beyond their potential? I would like to think this is the case. So, I wonder. If rewards and punishment extinguish, diminish, crush and crowd out the positive attributes and indeed encourage the negative attributes we would like to associate with our young people, then what is the answer?

I will read on... 

TR x

p.s. Include Solutions has some thoughts here.

10 January 2011

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

This year I would like to read more, move more and make music. I would like to achieve an Outstanding observation at least once and I would like to share my thoughts with more people. I would like to get into nature more and allow God to inspire me more. I would like to be the best dad I can as well as being a great husband, brother, son and best man. I would like to read the Bible more and learn more about God's love.

Happy New Year!